Biz & IT —

Microsoft introduces Windows Home Server, Sync at CES

Bill Gates took the stage at the 40th Consumer Electronics Show tonight and officially opened the expo with his annual keynote address. Standing on a stage with bedroom, kitchen, and living room furniture scattered about, Gates laid out Microsoft's vision for how the company would deliver on the promise of the "digital decade" while introducing a handful of new products and services, including a couple of previously undisclosed features of Vista.

Starting with a stream of statistics on digital camera usage, multiple PC ownership, and the preference of the "younger generation" for the Internet over television, Gates said that the missing piece of the puzzle was the connection. "Delivering on the connective experience takes more than great hardware," Gates told the audience. "That's the key experience that is missing, something that we all have to deliver on and take advantage of the hardware."

Vista, Office, and Live

Gates hailed Vista's imminent release, trumpeting it as "by far, the most important, highest quality release of Windows ever." Microsoft's Chairman then brought Microsoft Group Product Manager Justin Hutchinson on stage to show off a handful of previously unannounced features.

Highlighting the importance of combining the PC and the TV into an integrated entertainment experience, Hutchinson introduced SportsLounge. Developed in partnership with Fox Sports, SportsLounge combines live high-definition television with a Media Center along with real-time scores and stats, including up-to-the-minute fantasy sports stats.

Hutchinson also covered a couple features available only to users of Windows Vista Ultimate. The "flagship version of Vista" can be set to automatically download additional features and functionality. Group Shot is an Ultimate-only feature that goes a step beyond photo touch-up, merging multiple pictures together to "create the picture you wish you would have taken," said Hutchinson. Ultimate-only Dream Scene replaces the familiar desktop backgrounds with live video.

Gates then returned to the stage to talk about new Vista-centric hardware, including the HP TouchSmart PC, the Toshiba Portégé portable with a first-of-its-kind Ultrawideband (UWB) docking station, the round Sony VAIO VGX-TP1, and the Medion UMPC.

Windows Home Server

Microsoft's chairman then officially unveiled Windows Home Server. Announcing that "the home is personal again," Gates touted Windows Home Server as the ideal solution for homes with multiple PCs and for people that want their data available everywhere, all the time. The software giant worked very closely with HP during the development, and the first Windows Home Server devicethe HP MediaSmart Serverwill ship from HP some time during the second half of 2007.

Windows Home Server provides automated backup for all PCs connected to the network and can share files from PCs, Zunes, and Xbox 360s. It also provides remote access capability. "You don't need to think about volumes and other devices," said Gates. "It's plug and playthe software automatically sees the new storage and moves the data around."

Along with HP, Intel, AMD, and Quanta are building hardware reference designs for Windows Home Server.

Connected entertainment

Microsoft Entertainment and Devices Division President Robbie Bach then joined Gates on stage to show off Microsoft's vision for connected entertainment. "Connected entertainment has two parts to it," explained Bach. "Content and connectivity."

Bach started out by talking about music. He reiterated Microsoft's commitment to its older music partners before transitioning into a discussion of the Zune. Claiming that it is the "number two player in the MP3 category," Bach said that the player is off to a great start and that the company is committed to the player for the long run.

Bach then touted Microsoft's efforts with mobile phones before transitioning into gaming. Reminding the crowd that Windows PCs constitute the number one gaming platform in the world, Bach said that Vista marks the beginning of a revitalized gaming effort with Windows.

After showing a video on Vista gaming, Bach moved on to the Xbox 360. 10.4 million of Microsoft's next-generation consoles have been sold through the end of 2006, with the majority of buyers new to the Xbox platform. Microsoft expects to have over 300 titles available by the end of 2007, including Dance Dance Revolution, Guitar Hero 2, Mass Effect, Grand Theft Auto 4, and Halo 3.

Xbox Live now has over 5 million members and Bach called it the "largest social network on the TV." He then demoed the new PC vs. Xbox 360 gaming feature of Xbox Live, saying that it would roll out this summer.

The Xbox 360 is also a central part of Microsoft's high-definition video efforts. IPTV will be available on the Xbox 360 via selected service providers by the 2007 holiday season. Bach ran through a quick demo of IPTV over the 360, showing off what he described as the "next generation of channel surfing."

In the car

Saying that drivers want to "do the same things in the car that they can everywhere else," Gates then introduced Mark Fields, President of the Americas for Ford Motor Company to talk about Sync.

Based on the Microsoft Auto platform and developed by Ford, Sync enables hands-free phone dialing, address-book synchronization, and other features such as the ability to read text messages through the car’s audio system. Sync will be fully upgradeable and compatible with the Zune as well as other digital audio players. The new car-centric technology will be available "soon" in a dozen different Ford models.

Gates then wrapped up the keynote by talking about Microsoft's plan for the home of the future and saying that he's "excited for all of us to see the fulfillment of the digital decade." At the heart of the digital decade is the connected experience with movies, pictures, and music moving back and forth between PCs, televisions, and portable devices. It's a theme we expect to see echoed throughout CES this week.

Eric Bangeman
Eric has been using personal computers since 1980 and writing about them at Ars Technica since 2003, where he currently serves as Managing Editor. Twitter@ericbangeman